Purbeck View School

Northbrook Road, Swanage, Dorset BH19 1PR

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 16(a), 16(b)  There are fundamental weaknesses in the school’s safeguarding culture. The proprietor does not have sufficient oversight of safeguarding procedures and practices in the school.  The proprietor has not ensured that all staff with designated responsibilities for safeguarding have up-to-date training, as is required. Some other staff training is not renewed in time. For example, leaders did not recognise that staff’s training in restraint was out of date for a prolonged period. While this has been resolved now, such a delay had potentially put pupils at risk. School leaders’ quality assurance systems to check that all staff hold the necessary safeguarding training are now showing early signs of improvement. However, it is too soon to ascertain whether leaders will sustain this over time.  There are two safeguarding policies on the school’s website. They contain inaccurate

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Main inspection findings

information. The school’s safeguarding policy has not been updated in line with current legislation.  Staff know how to raise concerns should they believe that pupils are at risk of harm. Safeguarding incidents are recorded in detail. Leaders work with external agencies when required.  There are up-to-date health and safety and first-aid policies in place that meet requirements. However, there are weaknesses in their implementation. For example, the health and safety policy states that there must be adherence to the first-aid policy. However, this is not fully the case. When accidents occur, these are recorded. However, first-aid boxes are not checked regularly in line with policy requirements. Leaders know this, but they have not yet taken sufficient action to remedy this. There are weaknesses in the systems for administering medicines. For example, currently the medical room is not in use, and there is not a lockable cabinet in the school in

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Main inspection findings

which to store medicines.  The proprietor has ensured that there is a behaviour policy in place. However, there are weaknesses in its implementation. Staff record behaviour incidents. However, senior leaders do not analyse repeat behaviours astutely. Repeat behaviours can continue for an extended period before changes are put in place. This potentially puts pupils at risk. The proprietor does not have sufficient oversight of behaviour incidents over time.  There are weaknesses in the arrangements for staff suitability and supervision. For example, leaders know to keep appropriate staff–pupil ratios. However, some pupils are educated by staff who are without the skills and knowledge required. Leaders accept this practice as the norm.  The proprietor does not ensure that an admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006. Not all pupils who are on roll at the school appear on the admission

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Main inspection findings

register. Leaders do not ensure that the attendance register is accurate. For example, when pupils receive education off site, they are marked as present in the register. This has gone on for some considerable time.  There is a risk assessment policy that includes all the information it should. However, some risk assessments do not include precise information about how to mitigate risk. Leaders were unable to provide evidence that they had put additional measures in place to minimise the risks associated with the main gates to the school being open because they are broken. Some risk assessments for school trips are not sufficiently robust. Leaders acknowledge this, but have not addressed this shortcoming successfully. All pupils have individual risk assessments. However, some pupils’ risk assessments are not updated within the agreed timescales.  This independent school standards (the standards) in these paragraphs are not met.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 10, 12  The proprietor currently ensures compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The current fire risk assessment is up to date. Regular fire safety checks are in place, including for fire extinguishers. However, there are works being completed to change the use of two ground-floor rooms, one of which is due to be a cafeteria. Therefore, it will be essential to update the school’s fire risk assessment when these building works are complete and before the rooms are used by pupils to ensure that sufficient fire safety measures are in place.  The proprietor has ensured that there is an anti-bullying strategy in place.  The standards in these paragraphs are met.  Overall, the standards in this part are not met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18, 19, 20  All pre-employment checks are completed for new staff members in line with current legislation.  The standards in these paragraphs are met. Paragraph 21  The school’s single central record (SCR) is not kept up to date. Two members of staff were missing from the SCR at the point of the inspection. Leaders do not check the SCR robustly. As a result, weaknesses in the recording of the SCR go unchallenged.  The standard in this paragraph is not met.  Overall, the standards in this part are not met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled Paragraph 33(a)–33(k)  There is a detailed complaints policy in place that includes all the information it should.  However, the procedures set out in the policy are not consistently adhered to. Complaint records confirm that the school’s local complaint process is not followed robustly. For example, one complaint raised in the summer term of 2022 was still to be addressed.  The standard in this part is not met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  There have been considerable changes to school leadership. The proprietor has not ensured that school leaders fully understand the requirements of the independent school standards. Representatives of the proprietor board have started to take action. However, there has not been sufficient time to see impact. Therefore, considerable weaknesses remain.  The proprietor has not ensured that the standards for the arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school are met.  The standard in this part is not met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that were checked during this inspection, as set out in the annex of this report. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s suitability for continued registration as an independent school.

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School details

School status Independent special school

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School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 2

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School details

Website www.cambiangroup.com/specialist- education/our-schools/autism- schools/purbeck-view-school Email address Pvs.office@cambiangroup.com

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 22 to 24 March 2022

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Information about this school

 There have been significant changes to leadership of the school. Currently, a part-time, interim headteacher oversees the work of the school. An assistant headteacher took up post in September 2022. One class teacher has left, and another one was appointed in January 2023.  All pupils have autism spectrum disorder.  All pupils have an education, health and care plan, funded by a wide range of local authorities.  The school is registered for 57 pupils between the ages of seven and 19 years.  The school does not use any alternative providers.  All pupils attend the school full time.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. This was in response to a complaint relating to safeguarding, pupils’ welfare and safety, and leadership and management.  The inspector checked the school’s compliance with some independent school standards relating to the welfare, health and safety of pupils, the way in which complaints are handled, and the quality of leadership and management.  This inspection was conducted with no notice.  The inspector met with the assistant headteacher, other leaders, staff, the chair of the proprietor board and a regional director. She also held a meeting with representatives from Dorset local authority and the designated officer for safeguarding.  A range of documentation was reviewed, including policies, school documents, health and safety records and safeguarding records.  The interim headteacher was absent during the inspection.

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Inspection team

Julie Carrington, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  9 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor promotes good behaviour amongst pupils by ensuring that– – 9(b) the policy is implemented effectively;  11 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.  13 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that first aid is administered in a timely and competent manner by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written first aid policy.  15 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that an admission

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006[13].  16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified.

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

 21(3) The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is– – 21(3)(a) in relation to each member of staff (“S”) appointed on or after 1st May 2007, whether– – 21(3)(a)(i) S’s identity was checked; – 21(3)(a)(ii) a check was made to establish whether S is barred from regulated activity relating to children in accordance with section 3(2) of the 2006 Act; – 21(3)(a)(iii) a check was made to establish whether S is subject to any direction made under section 128 of the 2008 Act or section 142 of the 2002 Act or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in such a direction; – 21(3)(a)(iv) checks were made to ensure, where appropriate, that S had the relevant qualifications; – 21(3)(a)(v) an enhanced criminal record certificate was obtained in respect of S; – 21(3)(a)(vi) checks were made pursuant to paragraph 18(2)(d); – 21(3)(a)(vii) a check of S’s right to work in the United Kingdom was made; and

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

– 21(3)(a)(viii) checks were made pursuant to paragraph 18(2)(e), – 21(3)(b) in relation to each member of staff (“S”), whether a check was made to establish whether S is subject to a prohibition order or an interim prohibition order, including the date on which such check was completed.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 24(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable accommodation is provided in order to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupils, including— – 24(1)(a) accommodation for the medical examination and treatment of pupils;

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

 33 The standard about the manner in which complaints are handled is met if the proprietor ensures that a complaints procedure is drawn up and effectively implemented which deals with the handling of complaints from parents of pupils and which– – 33(i) provides for the panel to make findings and recommendations and stipulates that a copy of those findings and recommendations is— – 33(i)(ii) available for inspection on the school premises by the proprietor and the head teacher; – 33(j) provides for a written record to be kept of all complaints that are made in accordance with sub-paragraph (e)

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school– – 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; – 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils. guidance ‘Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-about-ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/ofsted .

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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